Canada Journal – News of the World Articles and videos to bring you the biggest Canadian news stories from across the country every day
New guidelines from doctors who specialize in sleep disorders map out how much sleep children of every age should get.
The recommendations released Monday range from up to 16 hours daily for babies to at least eight hours for teens, the AP reports.
They come from a panel of experts and give parents fresh ammunition for when kids blame them for strict bedtimes.
The guidelines, the first-ever for children from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, encompass recommendations the American Academy of Pediatrics has made at different times for different ages. According to the guidelines: Adequate sleep is linked with improved attention, behavior, learning, and mental and physical health at every age covered.
Meanwhile, insufficient sleep increases risks for obesity, diabetes, accidents, depression, and in teens, self-harm, including suicide attempts. The recommendations are based on a review of scientific evidence on sleep duration and health. Recommended daily/nightly sleep duration is as follows:
12 hours to 16 hours, including naps, for infants aged 4 months to 12 months (younger infants aren’t included because they have a wide range of normal sleep patterns)
11 to 14 hours, including naps, for children aged 1 to 2 years
10 to 13 hours, including naps, for children aged 3 to 5 years
9 to 12 hours for children aged 6 to 12 years
8 to 10 hours for teens aged 13 to 18 years
Agencies/Canadajournal
